Citizen concerns heard in Beverly

April 16, 2012

Congratulations to Beverly's Council, which listened and reacted quickly last week to complaints about what people see as a rising crime rate in the Washington County village.

Council voted Wednesday to add three part-time officers to the village's police force. The three-part time officers will work on a temporary basis and they will be paid $11 an hour. They will join the department's three full-time and one part-time officer, who include Chief Mark Sams.

The hope is that a more visible police presence on the streets of the village will discourage any would-be lawbreakers.

Residents and business owners in attendance at Wednesday's regular council meeting shared their concerns about several recent break-ins at homes, businesses and vehicles. Those who spoke up also deserve a pat on the back for taking an active role in their town's safety and what should be done to remedy a problem.

For example, Missy Huck, with the Beverly-Waterford Area Chamber of Commerce and a manager of B & W Pharmacy on Dietz Lane in Beverly, told council the pharmacy has been broken into twice in recent weeks and prescription medication was taken.

"I need to feel safe as an employee and as a resident and even as a homeowner because it's getting out of hand," she said. "We've invested thousands of dollars into this upgraded security system."

We hope steps taken by the village, in addition to anything individual citizens and businesses do, restore a feeling of security in the village.

We're confident citizens will return to speak with village council members if crime continues to be a problem in Beverly. And, given what council did last week, citizens can be confident that their concerns will be heard.